Scandinavians vow to attack

Swedes top
Sweden, who lead the group ahead of Denmark on goal difference, will definitely progress with a point against their Scandinavian neighbours, while a high-scoring draw would suffice for both sides no matter how many goals Italy score against Bulgaria in Guimarães.

'Honest people'
Denmark coach Morten Olsen has emphatically dismissed murmurings from the Italy camp that the two teams might engineer a 2-2 draw, saying: "That's a ridiculous thing to say. We are honest people and both teams will go out looking to win the match."

Attacking formation
Olsen is set to back up those words by sticking with an attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation that has served Denmark well in their opening two matches. The Danes are the only side yet to concede a goal in Portugal and their back four will remain unchanged for the third time running, with Thomas Helveg and Niclas Jensen flanking central defenders René Henriksen and Martin Laursen.

Poulsen option
FC Schalke 04 midfield player Christian Poulsen is in contention for a place alongside Thomas Gravesen in the centre, but Olsen is expected to opt for the more inventive Daniel Jensen, who excelled against Italy before having a quiet match against Bulgaria.

Flank threat
Jesper Grønkjær, an early substitute against Bulgaria following Dennis Rommedahl's thigh injury, is likely to start, even though the PSV Eindhoven winger should recover in time. Grønkjær, who proved his fitness by scoring an injury-time goal on Friday, would play on the right with Martin Jørgensen on the left, although the pair will look to pose problems by switching flanks regularly.

1992 bout
Sweden were victorious the last time these countries met in a UEFA European Championship back in 1992. Sweden, the hosts on that occasion, prevailed 1-0 in the group stage but the Danes famously went on to win the tournament, overcoming a strong Germany side in the final.

Two changes
Co-coaches Tommy Söderberg and Lars Lagerbäck are set to make two changes to the side that secured a dramatic 1-1 draw with Italy. Tobias Linderoth misses out on a midfield tussle with Everton FC team-mate Gravesen due to suspension. Celtic FC defender Johan Mjällby is the leading candidate to step into the midfield holding role, although Petter Hansson and centre-half Andreas Jakobsson are also in contention.

Källström hopeful
Mikael Nilsson will continue to deputise for the injured Teddy Lucic at right-back, meaning that RSC Anderlecht's Christian Wilhelmsson starts again on the right of midfield. Fredrik Ljungberg will play on the left, while Stade Rennais FC playmaker Kim Källström is hoping to get the nod ahead of Anders Svensson. Källström said: "I feel I am closer now to the starting eleven than I ever have been."

‘Fantastic player’
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson will continue an attacking partnership that has yielded four goals already, and Lagerbäck is predicting more magic from the AFC Ajax player after his acrobatic late equaliser against Italy. "He's a fantastic player," said the coach. "You just never know what he is going to do, and the good news is that he will only get better."

Denmark (probable): Sørensen; Helveg, Laursen, Henriksen, N Jensen; Gravesen, D Jensen, Tomasson; Grønkjær, Sand, Jørgensen.

Sweden (probable): Isaksson; Nilsson, Mellberg, Jakobsson, Edman; Wilhelmsson, Mjällby/Hansson, Källström/Svensson, Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic, Larsson.

Referee: Markus Merk (Ger).